Chapter 4

Two months later, during the mock exams, Julian was dead last in his grade.

He crumpled the test paper into a ball and shoved it into Mr. Davies's mouth.

I stopped doing my test. I reached out and grabbed him, almost begging in a whisper, "Jax, settle down. Apologize."

*Don't let everyone know, give Julian some space.*

But it was no use.

When Julian himself returned, the situation had escalated beyond calming. Even though the homeroom teacher was usually good-tempered, he couldn't tolerate Jax's extreme contempt. He made Julian stand in the hallway outside the classroom for the entire day.

This was an incredibly humiliating punishment.

Everyone who walked by would stare. And the once-glorious top student in the grade became the biggest topic of conversation that day.

"I think he's... lost his mind too."

"Right? How could he suddenly change so much, like a rabid dog, lashing out at everyone?"

I covered Julian's ears.

He looked at me obediently, but his eyes held the bewildered confusion of someone who had caused immense trouble.

"You're not sick, Julian. That was your brother. Not you."

"Your brother's name is Jax. He just causes trouble sometimes. It's really no big deal, right? You're always the master of this body."

Julian mechanically repeated my words. "That was my brother."

"I have DID. He's my other personality."

I was extremely reluctant to admit it, but I had to nod.

Julian was unusually calm.

He gave a faint smile and asked me, "So, you'd seen him before?"

My silence was the best answer.

He lowered his head, pushing me away with cold words. "Chloe, I don't need your pity."

I had a strange illusion that this summer had ended in that instant.

"Yeah, I was deluding myself."

"It won't happen again."